Forth and back TOR '19

[RBMann]

Day 21 cont. 2-

Finally arrived at Lake Walcott SP just outside Rupert, ID and found a nice camping spot down by the lake in their tent only area. Five minutes after I dropped a crouton off my the salad it was amazing how many ants had found it-



Nice sunset and after a shower life was good. Didn’t know I could still jump so fast after stepping on this guy in the darkness-

[wswartzwel]

if I stepped on that guy in the darkness another shower would be in order.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

if I stepped on that guy in the darkness another shower would be in order.

If I stepped on that ,IT would be getting a shower!

[RBMann]

At least I wasn't barefoot, not that would matter. Yes, scared the $hit out of me and then I turned on the flashlight.

[RBMann]

Day 22-Lake Walcott to Niagara Springs SP, ID 167 miles



When you look at the GPS trace it seems like a day of aimless wandering but I had several things I wanted to see, mostly waterfalls-

Pretty morning on the lake-



The remains of last nights 4 AM raccoon visit, a poor electrocuted bat and some visitors while I was packing up-







Token pelican photo-



Someone has been spending money in Rupert and the town is on the rise-



In contrast, when was the last time this business saw a remodel, 60s?-



It sprinkled while I was walking around Star Falls. the climb out was much easier than I thought on the way down-

[RBMann]

Day 22 cont.-

Well yes, rain again but the cloud cover kept things cool which was good-



Kind of surprised that there are no signs for Minidoka Internment Camp on any of the highways. I asked other people I met there and they agreed. You need to know where it is or have a GPS device. Not much left of the original camp but they are working on it-





Someone likes chickens-



Irrigation falls near Murtaugh, ID-



I almost skipped Shoshone Falls. I was getting hot and they wanted $5 for parking. You can’t see the falls until you pay. I decided what the hell I am here then the nice lady let me in free because I have a Golden Age Pass. Wow, glad I went in as this was probably the second best falls on the trip. Since it was free I had lunch there too-



Made it to Niagara Springs and had the place to myself. Nice 80s weather and the ranger told me it had been 103º F. the week before. I took a shower in the sprinklers and was dry in about ten minutes-

[RBMann]

Day 23-Niagara to Zims Hot Springs, ID 305 miles



Up and out somewhat early for me as I knew it would get hot today-



Many rivers and streams flowing from the north side of the plains sink into the aquifer instead of flowing into the Snake River, a group of watersheds called the lost streams of Idaho. The water then emerges from the cliffs as springs/falls. The water looks so cool and clear I want to drink it-







Heading through the farms for Box Canyon SP. This is another springs but you can see evidence of a waterfall during times of heavy rain-

[RBMann]

Day 23 cont.-

At 1,000 Springs SP most of the water is collected for irrigation, hydroelectric generation and fish hatchery use-











While we were in the area Bessie wanted to stop in and see some relatives-





An old theater turned into a restaurant-



This church in Buhl, ID always has a great reader board message-

[RBMann]

Day 23 cont. 2-

From this corner in town I could see five churches-





Just after crossing the Snake R. on Hwy 30 this home on an island has a great backyard water feature-



At my lunch stop in Hagerman I realised the rear tire is close to its end but I still have three and a half days to go-







Bliss, ID not-



GPS put me on the old highway going to Boise-



Is there really a Jeep under there?-

[RBMann]

Day 23 cont. 3-

Headed north on Hwy 55 from Boise there was very little traffic compared to when Ralf and I rode it a couple years ago. So I was hopeful but when I arrived at Ponderosa SP in McCall it was full. I just pushed on north then went up Hwy 95. Not far from New Meadow I spotted a sign for hot springs and camping, score. Spent the night at Zims with two other campers. Nice end to a longish day-

[RBMann]

Day 24-Zims to Colton, WA 200 miles



Very enjoyable road then along the Salmon River starting in Riggins-







In White Bird I scored a cold 12oz. Pepsi. 12oz. cans are getting hard to find, I don’t really need or want 16oz. or 20oz.. Used the old White Bird Grade to rejoin Hwy 95-









The always entertaining Spiral Highway out of Lewiston took me to Colton where I spent the night with a Datsun Roadster friend-

[RBMann]

Day 25-Colton to Republic, WA 305 miles



Warm and sunny ride up Hwy 27 through the rolling Palouse country. One of my favorite parts of WA. Made a quick run up Steptoe Butte where they charge $10 just to park at the top. Seems like all the communication equipment at the top should cover the upkeep-







Must be a good size engine judging by the exhaust-



Passing through Spokane sucked. Poor route choice on my part. Lots of traffic but just north of town it opened up quickly-





The fairground in Republic only had one camper and it was me-

[RBMann]

Day 26-Republic to Seattle 302 miles



I must be really gifted as I picked the only spot in the whole empty campground that has a tree blocking the morning sun so the tent would not dry out-



Stopped in Winthrop for ice cream. Very puzzling to watch four adults so involved with their phones that their small children spent the time screaming, fighting, pulling hair and poking each others eyes out without a single adult looking up from their tiny screen. Must be time to move on and go over the North Cascade Hwy-









Ross Lake was perfect-





Gorge Creek Falls the last of the trip-

[RBMann]

Day 26 cont.-

Passing through Darrington, WA and nearing home-



Memorial to the people that died in the Oso Landslide-



Some quick numbers. 28 days on the road with 26 riding. 3290 miles forth to TOR, 182 miles for TOR day ride and 2746 miles back home. Daily average 239 mile. Total for trip=6,218 miles

One set of 604/605 Shinko knobbies. They worked really well and just touched the wear bars at the end, perfect-





That is it for 2019. Another year of fun with Ralf. We really do travel well together. Thanks for tagging along. Time for a shower-

[wswartzwel]

Thanks for taking the time to share these ride reports. I wish I had the time and money to travel like this. I need to rethink my priorities. Finding someone you travel well with can be hard. Glad you and Ralf put up with each other so well. Why is he not posting?

[signit98]

I took care of the FB page for the trip (and hopefully many more)...
https://www.facebook.com/Uncommon-Adventures-by-Rick-Ralf-681965548931729

[wswartzwel]

ah.. I don't do FB anymore. But I did see some of the antics you posted before I split from there.

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

....... I need to rethink my priorities. Finding someone you travel well with can be hard. .......

Time and money are usually tied together. You have one or the other so you only need to solve half that problem.

Ralf and I have only traveled together the last five years so it only took me 45 years of solo riding to find someone but then I was not looking. Since we live in different cities it means at the start or end we each get some solo time to be more self indulgent.

[Chris Canning]

What a great thread absolutely loved it even my wife had read through it.

As for time and money strangely I/we have just arrived at that Eutopia sadly the next big thing is dieing so time to do and spend as much as possible.......

[Chris216]

RBMann, thanks for posting these trips and the great pictures. I live vicariously through your and Ralfs adventures. Hopefully one day soon I will get to retire and take some of these trips myself LOL! Thanks again for taking the time to post this.